The (Daily) Vent 2

(Pogo Oscillations. . .) April 4th, 1968. is known for two events. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in Memphis and the test launch of Apollo 6, the second un-crewed test flight of the Saturn V launch vehicle. Unlike the first Saturn test, Apollo 4 flown the previous November, was an almost flawless mission. Apollo 6, om the other hand, experience "pogo oscillation." On the rocket's ascent, as fuel was being fed into the combustion chambers to the massive engines, certain instabilities arose reducing thrust. There had been moments in right after lift-off when the oscillation threatened to break apart the rocket but when the third stage ignited, the vehicle achieved orbit and Apollo 6 was considered a success in the end, The data from the two un-manned missions allowed for Apollo 8 to circumnavigate the Moon itself that December. Pogo oscillations, in a sense, are what is being experienced now. It has been revealed that President Biden was more infirm than w...

(Contagion. . .) It is the day after President Trump announced the Day of Liberation where he labeled a series of tariffs that have gone into effect. Globally, in affected nations, their indigenous markets are responding. On Wall Street, the Dow is down 1200+, the Nasdaq about a thousand, and Stanard and Poor is more poor by some two hundred. In Germany, the DAX index is down almost six hundred. In Japan, its Nikkei is negative by a thousand, the London Financial Times is off 150 and the CAC Exchange in Paris is down 250. While all these declines are spectacular, worst performers in months, these transactions were all but predicted. Trump only made his Liberation Day comments only yesterday but there had been widespread expectation that some Trump tariff policy change was imminent. High economics might be involved in tariff policy but in the end, it is all simple math. Any trade imbalance between the U.S. and other nations, in the chart the President precented yesterday, levies from Ch...

(Half Moon Rising) The Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear weapon on August 29th, 1949. In a flash, literally, the American nuclear monopoly was ended. The year before, in 1948, a plan called Operation HALF MOON anticipated the use of nuclear weapons in any major conflict with the USSR. When the Soviets conducted their test in 1949, Western planners were faced with first "assured destruction" and, once the Soviet arsenal reached a certain level, all weapons all deliverable to American targets, assured destruction evolved into Mutual Assured Destruction. Operation HALF MOON anticipated these events. Today, April 2nd, that President Trump has been saying is "Liberation Day." On this day, the United States will impose tariffs on various countries with varying products and varying rates. In the President's mind, this new trade reciprocity will go into effect to equalize what has seen as an imbalance. Trump is always complaining how the U.S. is being mis-treat...

(Bell Whether ?) Happy April Fools' Day ! As some could re-call, in years past, The (Daily) Vent is declared closed and, some convoluted reason and make it sound serious. Then "April Fools" and a laugh is had by all. Not today. These elections today are being called a bellwether as to the President's popularity and if Republicans do well, if the House Seats are held and if the Conservative prevails in Wisconsin, then the night-mare scenario for Republican does not materialize. Conversely, if Trump tariffs and the liberal judge wins in Wisconsin, Democrats demonstrate strength in Florida and flip at least one Seat, Democrats will have had their first "good" week since November. These events could indeed be bellwether. Or, would it be a "Bell Whether ?" Whether or not Republicans or Democrats will wake up tomorrow after a good night's sleep, and who will be waking up with heartburn. As has been mentioned, these races have been scheduled but are a...